Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Delete'

English Word: Delete

Key Russian Translations:

• удалить [ʊdɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Commonly used in digital and general contexts]
• стереть [stʲɪˈrʲetʲ] - [Informal, Often used for physical erasure or wiping]

Frequency: High (especially "удалить" in digital contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "удалить"); B1 (Intermediate for "стереть" due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удалить: [ʊdɐˈlʲitʲ]

Note on удалить: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "у" is pronounced like the "oo" in "food," and the soft "л" requires a slight palatalization.

стереть: [stʲɪˈrʲetʲ]

Note on стереть: Stress on the second syllable. The "е" sounds like "ye" in "yet," and the "р" is rolled softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To remove or erase digitally (e.g., files, data)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удалить - Primarily used for deleting files, messages, or data on computers and phones.

Usage Examples:

• Я удалил файл с компьютера.

  I deleted the file from the computer.

• Можно удалить это сообщение?

  Can I delete this message?

• Она удалила все фотографии из альбома.

  She deleted all the photos from the album.

2. To erase or wipe out physically (e.g., writing, marks)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стереть - Used for erasing something tangible, like pencil marks or chalk from a board.

Usage Examples:

• Сотри ошибку с листа.

  Erase the mistake from the sheet.

• Он стёр мел с доски.

  He wiped the chalk off the board.

• Нужно стереть старые записи.

  We need to erase the old notes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

удалить (verb, perfective): This is a perfective verb, indicating a completed action. It follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ить.

стереть (verb, perfective): Also a perfective verb, used for completed actions. It follows regular conjugation for verbs ending in -еть.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for удалить:

• убрать (to remove, less formal)
• ликвидировать (to eliminate, formal)

Note: "убрать" is more general and can imply tidying up, while "ликвидировать" is formal and often used in legal or serious contexts.

Antonyms for удалить/стереть:

• сохранить (to save)
• записать (to write down or record)

Related Phrases:

• удалить из памяти - to delete from memory (literal or figurative)
• стереть в порошок - to wipe out completely (idiomatic, meaning to destroy or defeat utterly)
• удалить аккаунт - to delete an account (common in digital contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "удалить" is the go-to word for digital deletion (files, apps, accounts) and is more versatile across formal and informal contexts.
• "стереть" often implies physical erasure (e.g., wiping a board or erasing pencil marks) and can sometimes be used metaphorically (e.g., erasing memories).
• Be mindful of aspect: both are perfective verbs (completed action). For ongoing or habitual actions, use their imperfective forms: "удалять" and "стирать."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стереть" for digital deletion. Incorrect: "Я стёр файл." Correct: "Я удалил файл." (Explanation: "стереть" is rarely used for digital contexts.)
• Error: Forgetting aspectual pairs and using perfective verbs in present tense. Incorrect: "Я удалить файл каждый день." Correct: "Я удаляю файл каждый день." (Explanation: Use the imperfective "удалять" for habitual actions.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian digital culture, "удалить" is ubiquitous due to the widespread use of technology. Phrases like "удалить из друзей" (to unfriend someone on social media) are common in casual speech, reflecting modern social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• восстановить (to restore/recover)
• очистить (to clear/clean)
• форматировать (to format)